The neural correlates of well-being: A systematic review of the human neuroimaging and neuropsychological literature

Abstract

What it means to be well and to achieve well-being is fundamental to the human condition. Scholars of many disciplines have attempted to define well-being and to investigate the behavioral and neural correlates of well-being. Despite many decades of inquiry into well-being, much remains unknown. The study of well-being has evolved over time, shifting in focus and methodology. Many recent investigations into well-being have taken a neuroscientific approach to try to bolster understanding of this complex construct. A growing body of literature has directly examined the association between well-being and the brain. The current review synthesizes the extant literature regarding the neural correlates of trait-like well-being (i.e., the propensity to live according to one's true nature). Although reported associations between well-being and the brain varied, some notable patterns were evidenced in the literature. In particular, the strongest and most consistent association emerged between well-being and the anterior cingulate cortex. In addition, patterns of association between well-being and the orbitofrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, superior temporal gyrus, and thalamus emerged. These regions largely comprise the salience and default mode networks, suggesting a possible relationship between well-being and brain networks involved in the integration of relevant and significant stimuli. Various methodological concerns are addressed and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The Impact of Psycho-Social Interventions on the Wellbeing of Individuals With Acquired Brain Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The GENIAL model of wellbeing ( Genomics - Environment - vagus Nerve - social Interaction - Allostatic regulation – Longevity) , proposes that vagal function may underpin pathways to health, wellbeing and longevity ( Kemp et al, 2017 ). There is now substantial evidence that each of the core domains of wellbeing has been shown to both affect and be affected by vagal function ( Kringelbach and Berridge, 2010 ; King, 2019 ; Fisher et al, 2020 ). In a recent review on wellbeing and the neurological disorders ( Fisher et al, 2020 ), we proposed several core domains of wellbeing, comprising the individual (including a balanced mind and a healthy body), community (social connection), the natural environment (connection with nature), the role of behaviour change and socio-structural factors, which are summarised below.…”

Assessment of Flourishing Levels of Individuals by Using Resting State fNIRS with Different Functional Connectivity Measures

“…Previous studies revealed that default mode network (DMN) comprises regions such as precuneus, temporoparietal junction (Raichle et al, 2001) and angular gyrus (Igelstrom & Graziano, 2017). Also, covered regions were reported in previous studies that they have significant associations (see review (King, 2019)). Channel coordinates were obtained by using a navigation system on a subject’s head.…”

“…Understanding well-being level of individuals is a challenging problem due to being dependent to self-reporting which is a subjective criteria (Diener, 1984). To objectively assess well-being, several neuroimaging studies have been performed to understand the neural correlates of well-being and it was reported that anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), superior temporal gyrus (STG) and thalamus was strongly associated to well-being and these regions are sub-components of default mode network (DMN) (see review (King, 2019)). This finding makes resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) based studies using fMRI (Kong, Liu, et al, 2015; Kong, Wang, et al, 2015; Kong, Wang, et al, 2016; Kong, Xue, et al, 2016; Luo et al, 2014; Luo et al, 2016; Luo et al, 2017; W. Sato et al, 2019) and fNIRS (F. Goldbeck et al, 2018) important to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of well-being.…”

Trait self-control mediates the association between resting-state neural correlates and emotional well-being in late adolescence

“…, 2017 ; Shi et al. , 2018 ; King, 2019 ). In line with the exiting findings, our mediation models revealed that through TSC, the IFG within the ECN could positively affect EWB and negatively predict negative affect in the pandemic, while the precuneus within the DMN could negatively affect EWB and the MFG positively predict negative affect in the pandemic.…”